We’ve all heard the saying “You are what you eat”, right? Well, many health practitioners agree it goes far beyond that. A more accurate phrase would be “You are what you DIGEST”. You could be eating all the “right” foods, but if you aren’t digesting those foods adequately or absorbing nutrients properly, all that kale won’t really help you now, will it?

Common Symptoms of Poor Digestive Health

Bloating

Gas

Constipation (less than 2-3 bowel movements per day; incomplete BMs)

Diarrhea

Burping

Heartburn

Abdominal Pain

Undigested food in stool

Fatigue and energy lulls around 2-3pm

Allergies

Brain fog

Joint Pain

Cravings

Irritability

Headaches

Anxiety or depression

Skin problems

Bring in Healing Foods

Focus on introducing healing foods into your
diet that will help soothe the gut. Some therapeutic foods, especially for
sensitive stomachs, are bone broth soups, coconut oil, roasted vegetables,
organic meat, fermented foods, turmeric, ginger and licorice root. By choosing
whole foods, ideally organic, you will naturally omit a lot of additives and
sugars that contribute to digestive discomfort.

Add Digestive Enzymes and Probiotics

We produce digestive enzymes in our pancreas and
even in our mouth, but over the years of abusing our guts with processed foods,
sugar and overeating, these enzymes can start to deplete. Adding in enzymes
will help you better digest your food so you can reap all the benefits of your
healthy diet. Additionally, probiotics provide the friendly bacteria we need to
keep our guts happy and healthy.

Address Common GI Disturbances

Certain foods such as gluten, dairy, soy, corn
and eggs can contribute to digestive symptoms like the ones listed above. These
common food allergens can also show up in other surprising ways, such as
migraines, emotional imbalance and weight loss or gain.

Get A Clear Picture of the Root Cause

We have trillions of bacteria in our gut that
help us digest our food and produce nutrients to keep us healthy.
Unfortunately, this balance can easily be disturbed by a poor diet, alcohol,
antibiotics, stress, glyphosate and other factors. If you’re struggling with GI
symptoms, getting proper testing to determine the root cause can be extremely
informative. Oftentimes our clients have an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria,
parasites, fungal infections or other microorganisms that leave them feeling
less than optimal. Testing takes the guesswork out of the equation, allows us
to narrow down root factors and see what’s going on behind the symptoms you’re
experiencing.

Monitor Your Poop

It might seem silly, but your poop tells you a TON about your gut health and the overall health of your body. We want “foot-long-floaters” that are passed effortlessly and form a lovely s-shape. Good visual right? Other things to keep an eye out for are undigested foods, which is a good sign you’re not breaking them down properly; also, changes in colour, mucus and stool that is hard and clumpy or too soft.

Stop Chugging All Your Water with Meals

Many people are surprised by this one but
drinking lots of water with meals dilutes the hydrochloric acid in your
stomach, which you NEED for a healthy gut. Keeping your digestive fire burning
and your HCl up helps you digest proteins, while low acid will cause digestion
to slow, allowing foods to ferment in the stomach, leading to irritating
symptoms of indigestion.

Practice Mindful Eating

If you’re currently eating in a stressed state,
on the run, while working or getting angry in traffic, this shuts down your
digestive system! Staying present while eating, truly enjoying your food,
chewing well and being thankful helps your body digest and utilize it better!

Thinking something might be off with your gut? Contact the clinic to find out more about our Complete Digestive Stool Analysis Testing and how we can help you feel more like yourself again!